Four entries in, and the Xenoblade series' battle system just keeps changing. Knowing how to do Ouroboros orders during your flashy Chain Attacks is something that'll puzzle you right from the get-go, but you can be sure you're getting the most out of your lengthy all-out strikes by following along with the pointers below.
For this guide specifically, we'll be looking at how to do more Ouroboros orders during your Chain Attacks moreso than just attempting to increase the amount of character-specific attacks you get out. Ouroboros Orders generally deal more damage, and they look better to boot. But getting more than one in a single go isn't very well explained.
We'll be adding more and more Xenoblade Chronicles 3 guides throughout the launch period (like how to climb), so keep checking back for any new ones as and when your questions arise. Until then, consider our Octopath Traveler Champions of the Continent codes page if you don't mind having a mobile JPRG going on the side.
What Are Ouroboros Orders in Xenoblade Chronicles 3?
Ouroboros Orders are something you'll spot at the end of your very first Chain Attack in Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
The results screen shows you your total damage, the regular, character-specific Orders you managed (the cards you picked and completed), and the number Ouroboros Orders you managed - times you managed to call out your Ouroboros form to shred your opponent during the same chain attack.
You'll notice that even if you're using your Ouroboros form during a Chain Attack, you'll be kicked out of it for the entire sequence, so that's clearly not how to pull them off. Keep reading, though, and we'll explain how it all works.
How to Do Ouroboros Orders in a Chain Attack
To pull off an Ouroboros Order in a Chain Attack in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, you first have to wait until you unlock the ability. Though you'll unlock both Chain Attacks and your Ouroboros form near enough at the beginning of the game, you won't be able to use the latter in the former until around Chapter 3.
Once you've unlocked the ability (through a pretty big boss battle), you'll be able to execute an Ouroboros Order in a Chain Attack by completing the Orders of two characters who share their Ouroboros form: here's the list
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Ouroboros Pairs
- Noah and Mio
- Taion and Eunie
- Lanz and Senna
An easy to remember who pairs with who is to just look down the character list during a chain attack. They're all in order, so pairs are always in sequence. Check the order log on the opposite side to see which you've already done.
So, what this means is that you have to select (and complete) an order from both characters in a pair during the same Chain Attack to pull off an Ouroboros order.
As soon as you complete their two orders (they don't have to be in order), the next lot of Orders you can choose from will include their Ouroboros pair. Select this, and you'll reactivate every character, ensuring you'll be able to hit 100 percent and execute the order.
How to Do More Ouroboros Orders
But pulling off one Ouroborus Order via the method above immediately ends the chain attack, seemingly stopping you from increasing the order count beyond one.
That's because there's another way to activate a Chain Attack if you're wanting to do more than a single Ouroboros Order. By hitting Interlink only when it's at level three and starting a Chain Attack while you're in that form, you'll be able to pull off an Ouroboros order right from the start, without having to complete two matching pair orders first.
Once you're done with that one, you'll get another chance through Reactivation, allowing you to pull off another - generally starting with the other character's Ouroboros form instead for a different attack entirely.
Over time, you'll unlock the ability to chain into more Ouroboros forms using your other characters, increasing your Ouroboros order count more and more if you can keep up the reactivation combo.
For more on the Xenoblade Chronicles series, check out our Xenoblade Chronicles 3 hub for release date details, development details, and anything else we didn't know until the game released. Our Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition review might be worth a look as well.